It was predicted to happen sooner or later. Census in California revealed that Latinos have now outnumbered the whites.
In a report by Fox News Latino, the moment when Latinos become the largest racial group in California has finally happened. Latinos who are living in California or commonly called as Hispanic Californians began to slowly outnumber the whites during the first half of 2014. This is according to the research released by the United States Census Bureau.
As of July 1, 2014, California had about 14.99 million Latinos in population compared to the 14.92 million non-Hispanic whites. If their numbers are put together, they make up about 80 percent of the state's population.
This was already foreseen by demographers especially when the Hispanic population boomed because of immigration and birth. It started in the 1980's when America received a large immigration surge from Central America and Mexico. The California Department of Finance predicted this to happen in 2013, but because of a slight decline in population it was pushed back to 2014.
"This is sort of the official statistical recognition of something that has been underway for almost an entire generation," said director of the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute at the University of Southern California Roberto Suro last Wednesday. "It is going to accelerate. This is really the beginning of a new phase that will play out over another generation."
According to Los Angeles Times, California - after Hawaii and New Mexico - is now the third state in America without white plurality. New Mexico also has a large Latino population while Hawaii is dominated by a large Asian population.
"The Latino population is relatively young, with a median age of about 29, while the aging white population has a median age of 45. State demographers project Latinos will account for about 49% of Californians by 2060," stated the article by L.A. Times.
Marcelo Suarez-Orozco, dean and professor of education at Graduate School of Education and Information Studies in UCLA said that the increasing Latino population in America is not exclusive to immigration but due to second and third immigrants who chose to remain in the U.S. and start their families.
"Where L.A. goes is where the rest of the state goes and where the rest of the country goes. We announce, demographically speaking, the future for the rest of the country," Orozco added.
This new report comes after the Latino community is being attacked by presidential candidate of Republican's Donald Trump. The businessman strongly disapproved of immigration and mentioned specifically the Mexican population.